INDIE SOAP BEAT: November 4, 2009

In this week's "Indie Soap Beat" feature, we take a look at the latest happenings from around the world of independent soap opera production. This week we have an exclusive interview with VENICE star Gina Tognoni, an interview with REALITY BYTES producers Tristan Rogers and Kate Lang, and a premiere date for GOTHAM!

We Love Soaps west coast correspondent Stephanie Burke visited the set of VENICE last week and you can catch a sample of her interviews on the latest episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV. Full versions of each interview will be online throughout the week starting with Gina Tognoni, who plays Sami. You can watch Tognoni's interview below.

A GOTHAM premiere date has been set! GOTHAM will debut Monday, November 23 at 8 p.m. ET on gothamtheseries.com and YouTube. There will a chat from 7-8 p.m. before the show airs. Look for more details very soon and the launch of the GOTHAM website. Creator/Producer/Actress Martha Byrne has tweeted that she's in the editing process and is "getting excited."

In Part One of the We Love Soaps interview with REALITY BYTES producers Tristan Rogers and Kate Lang, Lang explained how the idea for the show came from a dream. Rogers predicted big things for the indie soap movement: "This time next year I think they'll probably ten shows, maybe more, that are active out there." Rogers also humorously added: "I've been telling peole for ages how to do better soap. Now we're about find out if I know what I'm talking about." Look for the rest of the interview to be transcribed later in the week.

The first episode of WED-LOCKED premiered on November 1 at Saint-Victor.net. We Love Soaps recently caught up with WED-LOCKED producers and stars Lawrence Saint-Victor (Robert) and Karla Mosley (Denise). If you missed our video interview, you can watch it in three parts here, here and here. The show is looking for feedback following the first episode. If you were the therapist, what would you instruct Robert and Denise to do?

PALISADES POOL PARTY explores the world of teens living in the affluent beach community of the Pacific Palisades utilizing a unique brand of storytelling.

“For as much as teens use the Internet as a source of entertainment, we felt there was a real lack of teen programming,” says director and co-creator, Jack Monroe. “And certainly in the serialized drama department; I can’t think of any other web series doing what we’re doing. There are user-generated teen shows, but they are mostly comedies and often lack production value.”

Episode #11 of WORKSHOP, "Time To Make Some Moves," is now online. The comedy was created by Nate Golon and Kimberly Legg and stars former PASSIONS actor Phillip Jeanmarie. In the new episode, Tension is bubbling to the surface for everyone! Matthew is getting chewed out by his agent, Adam's heading to his agent to tell her off, Sarah and Vivian are at the final callback for "Iceberg", and Jeff and Kaitlyn finally go out to dinner together.

Episode #6 of FANTASY OVER REALITY, the web sitcom that revolves around a group of guys and their fantasy football league, is now playing on the show's website. Y&R's Vail Bloom, who plays Sarah Smith in the series, once again shines in this comedic role.